ABSTRACT
Small businesses are more prone to market a movement which gets aggravated in an uncontrollable scenario such as COVID-19. The objective of the study is to understand the impact of COVID-19 and the subsequent government's policy support, on the earnings of MSME firms in Saudi Arabia. Based on a selected study period (March–May 2021), a survey of MSME owners and managers was conducted (41% response rate) using a 33-item questionnaire. Linear regression analysis and moderation analysis was used for data interpretation. One of the key findings of the study is that firm's size and the government's economic support moderates the relationship of MSME operations with MSME earnings. Copyright © 2023 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
ABSTRACT
Aim: Coronavirus infection has caused disease at the pandemic level with several deaths worldwide and affected all aspects of human life. One way to minimize virus transmission and its effects is to perform mass vaccination within the general population so that herd immunity is developed against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, low health literacy and vaccine hesitancy are potential threats in achieving this. The present study is designed to measure the Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception levels towards COVID-19 and assess public perception and acceptance levels of the vaccine among the general population in the Hail province of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A bilingual, community-based questionnaire, consisting of the respondents' socio-demographic profile, COVID-19 knowledge, and attitude & perception towards COVID-19 vaccination, was circulated using different social media platforms. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Appropriate knowledge level was found in 74.8% of the respondents, whereas inappropriate knowledge levels were observed in females and participants with non-health-related occupations and were inversely related to willingness to the vaccine. More than 60% of the respondents had a negative attitude towards the COVID-19 vaccine, as only 51% were willing to get vaccinated. A negative attitude was significantly associated with female respondents. Conclusion: Our study reports a high knowledge level among the respondents in the Hail province. However, there is also a decreased willingness to be vaccinated, suggesting that more vaccine and health literacy seminars should be conducted to generate awareness among the general population in the Hail province, KSA.
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Background: The curfews and lockdowns imposed during the COVID 19 pandemic may decreased volume of traffic and reduced air pollution. In addition, social distancing measures may contribute to reduce infection and asthma exacerbation. Objective: To assess asthma control and asthma medication use among sever asthmatics on biologics before and after COVID-19 pandemic Method: This is a cross-sectional survey study of patients with severe asthma receiving biologic therapy at King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh (KAMC-R), Saudi Arabia. We looked at the effects of the COVID19 lockdown on this cohort of sever asthmatics on biologic therapy from March till June 2020 over a period of 12 weeks. We investigated changes in patients symptoms and asthma control using the asthma control test (ACT) score and other parameters including, emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, use of oral prednisolone, changes in inhaler therapy, frequency of bronchodilators use and patient perception of their symptoms before and after the lockdown period. Results: A total of 56, Female 39;(69%0;mean age ± SD 47.4 ± 13.8 years. The duration of bronchial asthma since diagnosis range from 4-30 years. Most patients had been treated with Omalizumab (47;84%);the rest received Mepolizumab (7;12.5%) and Dupilumab (2;3.6%). All these patients had been on biologic therapy for 5 months, range from 5 to 120 months. Most of the patients (45;80.4%) agreed that their symptoms of asthma had improved with biologic therapy. Most of the patients felt overall asthma symptoms is better after curfew and lockdown 28 (50%). Less use of bronchodilators post curfew reported in 38% of the patients. Asthma control (≥20) using ACT score was significantly higher among patients in post curfew and lockdown period compared to pre curfew period 34(61.7%) and 23 (41%), (p.0.001) respectively. Conclusion: Asthma control was better post curfew and lockdown. Decrease in air pollution and social distances may be contribute factor.
ABSTRACT
Background: Enforced social distancing (i.e. lockdowns) greatly facilitated control of COVID-19. Whilst access to hospitals was restricted, outpatient care continued remotely. At our institute, the biologic therapy for severe asthma patients is administered on-site by specialist nurses who follow manufacturers' recommendations. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the satisfaction of patients with severe asthma with telemedicine, and the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on their receipt of biologics and other treatments for asthma. Methods: A crosssectional survey of 58 patients with severe asthma scheduled to receive biologic therapy at our hospital during the lockdown was performed with ethical approval. Results: Fifty-four patients participated (F 37;mean age 46.7 years;response rate 93.1%). Meantime since diagnosis was 19.2 years (SD 11.5 years). All had been on biologic therapy Omalizumab (45), Mepolizumab (7), or Dupilumab (2) for over three months (mean 38.4 months ± SD 26.5 months). Fifty (92.6%) had telephone follow-up, 31 (57.4%) were satisfied with telemedicine, 45 (81.4%) agreed that biologic therapy improved their asthma, and 40 (74.1%) received scheduled biologic therapy. Of the 45 patients living in the city, nine did not receive biologic therapy, two cited the lockdown as the reason for this;two did not receive an appointment;two did not perceive any benefit;2 had other reasons. Five of the nine patients living outside the city did not receive biologic therapy, 3 because of the lockdown, and 1 for fear of acquiring COVID-19. Alarmingly, 16 (29.6%) suggested that they had insufficient medications, and 27 (50%) reported difficulty obtaining medications. Conclusions: Many patients were satisfied with telemedicine, so this could be used to deliver routine outpatient tertiary care post-pandemic. However, logistics around supplying medications, and biologics must be considered in plans preparing for the second wave of COVID-19.